No insurance route

[Armygalbonnie 643]

I never thought I had sleep apnea either and I do have it. My husband says I don't even snore. I had the study done before I started the process as part of my veteran's medical evaluation. I told them they were wasting their money because I knew I don't have it. Man was I surprised!

[njgal 535]

I never thought I had sleep apnea either and I do have it. My husband says I don't even snore. I had the study done before I started the process as part of my veteran's medical evaluation. I told them they were wasting their money because I knew I don't have it. Man was I surprised!

wow! Didn't think you could have it and not know it maybe the same will happen to me who knows!

[crazywomanincage 22]

I was recently sleeved in Mexico. I went through a company called Ready 4 a Change. The cost ( $4400) for me included everything (hospital stay and hotel stay and transportation to and from the airport) except the plane ticket.

I chose to go through Mexico cause I didn't want to jump through insurance hoops and wait too long.

I have no regrets.

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[Jill_Me 100]

In my case it was worth it to jump through the hoops. Those hoops were there to make sure things were as they should be before surgery. Beware of any clinic that doesn't make you jump through any hoops. Ask about leak rates (leaks can kill) for the clinic or surgical group (if over 2 or 3% I'd bounce). If your insurance requires 5 years of bmi over 40 like Jamie's (that's insane) then maybe opt for purchasing a policy on the healthcare exchange that doesn't suck in such a way.

Good luck! I hope there's a lot of good resources about the Mexico route if that's what you decide on.

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[Jill_Me 100]

Also be awAre that if you are hospitalized after your surgery because you have something caused by the surgery that wasn't approved by insurance then often the insurance will deny that claim as well. It may be a gamble that costs a lot of money. I work in the industry and have seen this happen, but not with WLS (seen it with Breast augmentations).

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[Stella S 613]

I was in the same place I did not have the BNI or coexisting conditions. I self paid because I saw diabetes and heart condition in my future unless I lost. I never dreamed how much of a positive impact it would have and do not regret a single penny. I chose to have it done in the states and purchased a secondary insurance policy in case there were complications.

Stella

[njgal 535]

Thanks all! I think I'm going to opt for ankle weights and go through the hoops afterall

[sgromo1777@gmail.com 1]

Pay for it don't gain weight... Go to Mexico... There good trust me...just make sure you do a lot of homework on your surgeon.....

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[joumana 0]

Good morning... wondering if anybody opted to do this without insurance? There are so many hoops to jump through that I am considering doing this without insurance. How much? Here or Mexico? Is it worth waiting for and jumping through the hoops or all the same to go out of pocket? Any cautionary tales or advise? Thanks guys!

I went through ALM (Dr. Covarrubias) in Mexico. My insurance won't cover the surgery at all unless one has comorbidities so I didn't qualify. I paid around $4450 and it included hotel and most transportation (not airfare). No complaints.

VSG 12/28/16

HW 321

SW 301

CW 281

Edited February 4, 2017 by joumana

[Kristinsleeve06092016 3]

I had insurance. Would have had to go to a different state multiple times for hoops. Done tjose hoops twice. Took my $4500. To Mexico when I wanted and did it. My insurance company thought I was nuts.

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[MoVSG17 7]

Good morning... wondering if anybody opted to do this without insurance? There are so many hoops to jump through that I am considering doing this without insurance. How much? Here or Mexico? Is it worth waiting for and jumping through the hoops or all the same to go out of pocket? Any cautionary tales or advise? Thanks guys!

I did self pay here in Louisiana. Thomas Borland in New Iberia. $9800. Heard a rumor that he was the cheapest in the United States. He only does VSG though. I was sleeved by him on 1/30/17. Doing great so far. Good luck!

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[njgal 535]

Pay for it don't gain weight... Go to Mexico... There good trust me...just make sure you do a lot of homework on your surgeon.....

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oh no, i meant ankle weights for the weigh in... rather than actually gain the weight

[bleonhardt 46]

Pay for it don't gain weight... Go to Mexico... There good trust me...just make sure you do a lot of homework on your surgeon.....

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oh no, i meant ankle weights for the weigh in... rather than actually gain the weight

Hi there! I was sleeved via insurance here in California on 12/09/16. Stay should have been one night in hospital but I ended up with a complication of a twisted stomach! I was there for 6 nights and had 2 more surgeries! Now luckily my insurance paid 100% of everything but think about this happening in Mexico! Make sure to ask what that would look like for you if you did have a complication! There was no way to know that I would be the 1% with this type of complication so you just never know! Good luck!!

Sleeved 12/09/16

SW 273

CW 223

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[White Sale 339]

I chose to self-pay and have the operation in the U.S. The fact that I did not have any obesity-related diseases, that I have a clean medical history, and that I am young-ish meant that the surgeon only ordered 3 pre-op tests for me rather than the entire litany many folks go through.

PROS:

-I shopped for a surgeon without regard to whether or not he/she was "in-network"

-It was quick. I scheduled my surgery for 3-4 weeks after my first pre-op appointment.

-No hassle of dealing with endless insurance paperwork & requirements.

CONS:

-The price I was quoted did not included everything, when I was led to believe that it did. I'm now faced with over $5000 of unexpected costs. I'm very salty over this.

-If anything goes awry, I'm up the creek without a paddle.

Edited February 4, 2017 by White Sale

[Chantell C 1]

I was a quick pay. I made the weight and them some , but I didn't have any other health problems. I live in Slidell Louisiana. I paid 10,700. I'm very happy. If I have a problem that first year I can see the doctor again. I get periodic check ups through the year.

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